Premium News
The judge in charge of the terrorism trial of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, Justice James Omotosho, has said that judgment could be delivered in the absence of a defendant in cases of unruly behaviour.
The judge made the statement after Nnamdi Kanu was escorted out of the courtroom on Thursday for challenging one of the rulings.
Kanu had, among other things, prayed the court to grant him bail and urged the court to allow him more time to file his final written address.
This followed counter-motions filed by the prosecution counsel, Awomolo, SAN, in reply to Kanu’s first and second motions, insisting that Kanu’s motion for bail was an abuse of court process.
Justice Omotosho subsequently dismissed Kanu’s request for a stay of proceedings and refused him bail.
The court also dismissed Kanu’s motion for more time to file his final written address.
Justice Omotosho frowned at Kanu’s unruly behaviour, insisting that the court as an institution must be respected.
“The sanctity of the temple of justice must be respected,” he said.
“By judicial precedence, if a defendant becomes unruly, a verdict can be given in his absence.”
